6 6 7 5 5 6 5 5 6 6 6
Lively at the start, then he lost heart – rather like his Chelsea career
Willian (Pedro 58) Barkley (Kovacic 71) Zapacosta (Azpilicueta 82) Two early saves and brave keeping to block Pedro. Dependable YOUNG
Booked Card for cynical and late challenge on Pedro. Nasty
Determined & strong, his presence was vital for United’s defence
Steady at the back, he’s become so consistent and reliable
Solid defensively, some brave challenges. Little chance to attack
Scored a wonderful opener which typified outstanding work rate
Booked Saw a yellow card for foul on Hazard, who got stick all night
MOM Great cross for Herrera goal. Influence & confidence growing
Nice work in build-up to opener. Understated yet influential
Looks so big, no wonder Solskjaer prefers a more mobile striker THE chants were so loud from the away end that surely they cannot be ignored.
And the chorus of disapproval for boss Maurizio Sarri told another story – time really is running out on yet another Chelsea manager.
Yet the man in the opposite dugout could hardly be more popular with his fans.
Manchester United’s army of travelling supporters made it clear they want Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to be their permanent manager with a repertoire of songs in his honour – and it is easy to see why.
Solskjaer has given United back they identity, and he has reinvigorated Paul Pogba. Pogba scored one, made one, and rampaged through the midfield as if he owned Stamford Bridge.
United are still a long way from being back to where they were but Solskjaer has restored their pride after the dark days of Jose Mourinho.
For Sarri, though, the future is nowhere near so bright.
Chelsea fans voiced their frustration by chanting “f*** Sarri ball” – followed by songs about Derby manager Frank Lampard – and yet another gaffer appears to be on his way out of Stamford Bridge.
Sarri cut a hopeless figure on the touchline, out of ideas and seemingly out of time.
They have a Wembley cup final on Sunday but you would not put it past Chelsea to pull the trigger on Sarri because right now they look a hopeless case. They did not concede six this time, like they did against Manchester City, but they were booed off at half-time and fulltime.
Yet the Blues had actually started quite nicely.
Eden Hazard was looking lively and David Luiz’s 20-yard free-kick forced a good save from United keeper Sergio Romero, who then stopped Pedro’s follow-up effort.
But they were also the architects of their own downfall because they gave United players way too much space.
Luiz and Marcos Alonso are defenders who are simply not made to defend.
Brazilian centre-half Luiz has a tendency to doze off while Alonso’s positional sense is woeful.
That was there for all to see on both United goals.
They went ahead in the 31st minute after a lovely build-up. Juan Mata was influential before Pogba once again showed his class with a beautiful cross.
Luiz was too busy watching Marcus Rashford and Alonso seemed to be asleep as Ander Herrera stole in unmarked to get a head on Pogba’s delivery and find the far corner.
Part of the magic of the cup is the generous away allocation for visiting supporters and Chelsea’s Shed End was full of United fans who celebrated wildly and broke into a rousing chorus of Solskjaer songs again.
They did not have to wait much longer for another either as they were two up after 45 minutes.
This time Pogba was both scorer and architect as the France World Cup winner destroyed Chelsea.
The born-again midfielder spread the ball wide to Rashford on the right before setting off on a lung-bursting run towards the Chelsea penalty box.
Rashford, unchallenged, timed his cross to perfection, and picked out Pogba who dived in to head powerfully home an emphatic second goal and stamp United’s authority all over the tie. Chelsea fans